Have you tried meditation?
Even five minutes can be helpful.
Meditation is an amazing tool for anyone to connect with their inner selves and a way to find some quiet moments each day to renew and allow their mind to rest.
Running, as we all know is physical. It is helpful for our minds, as it works our body and helps to keep us fit. Meditation is for the mind. According to William Glasser, M.D., running is the easiest way to physically find a positive addiction. Meditation is the most popular way.
Do you remember the Transcendental Meditation or TM movement from the 60’s? Maharishi Mahesh Yogi started the movement and brought it to the masses. Now, meditation is more mainstream, a respected practice and accessible to everyone.
Postive Addiction
In his book, Positive Addiction, Glasser interviews, and shares how people feel after they meditate. They discuss how meditation has changed their life. Their life becomes more clear. Connections with others became easier.
Relationships improved. Their confidence in themselves begins to grow.
With meditation, we have a regular time each day to notice our breath as we accept what goes on in our head in a non-critical way. Many people meditate in the morning right after they get up. Some prefer to meditate after a physical activity, or later in the day.
When you meditate, you gain more access to your brain. It is hard to achieve the same effect if you do not take the time to notice your breath.
Physical relaxation occurs because as Glasser points out any mental strength we have is reflected in physical relaxation. One person describes her meditation practice as a “typical relaxed, non-self-critical flow of ideas which come and go effortlessly…”
Other descriptions of meditation are that it is a tremendously unique and very personal experience. It’s almost sacred, but not religious at all. More energy, more determination, and enjoyment of every moment are other words to describe the experience.
The large and clear thinking was mentioned. The experience felt large. The person who practiced meditation felt he was without his body. He knew he was inside it, but did not feel it. It was a glimpse of total limitlessness.
Others mentioned that they get the same relaxed feeling as when they are in a beautiful natural setting. Glass calls this the pleasant, relaxing, non-self-critical pre-PA state.
When the meditators missed their practice, they felt a mild discomfort. They had a feeling of missing something valuable, a little tension or guilt. It’s the same sort of feeling as not brushing your teeth, or bathing, a habit that you are used to.
Some of the meditators that Glasser questioned were heavy to moderate drug users. They explained that when the drug experience wears off, the more they used, the less effect the drug had. The difference with meditation is that the experiences were cumulative. It carried over into their daily life, even after they had forgotten about their practice.
The group, in general, reported that they had a greatly diminished use of alcohol. Many have stopped drinking, smoking and using drugs of any kind.
Meditation helps you to gain strength It has health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and pulse rate. Meditation can strengthen the immune system, as well as lift your mood.
I’m fairly new to meditation, having started practicing after taking yoga for several years. What I love about meditation is the calm, relaxed feeling I have. Letting everything just be for a period of time has been helpful.
The idea is to let your thoughts just float by. Do not attach yourself to any of them. Let go of judgment.
Sit and notice your breath. Of course, on occasion, I get antsy. I think other people do as well from time to time.
The key is to keep at it. You will then develop your practice. It will become part of your life.
I believe meditation is helpful to all of us. It allows us to access those inner thoughts that we may not give ourselves time to get to during a busy day.
Here are ten quotes that explain the benefit of meditation.
If you are looking for a more peaceful existence, give meditation a try. You may find that you will feel the serenity you are seeking.
Are you interested in adding meditation to your life? How has meditation helped you? Join the discussion and let us know in comments.
Hi Cathy,
I am glad to hear that you are meditating. It takes some getting used to but the benefits are so worth it to me. I remember watching the Tina Turner movie over a decade ago and how she used Meditation to get out of the relationship with Ike and to strengthen her inner- self.
Hi Justin,
Meditation is a wonderful tool and what’s great is that everyone has access to it if they are interested. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Cathy-Hope you are well. I really appreciate this info about meditation. It is something I have just started doing although I have not mastered it every time.
As always, thanks for your support.
Karen
Hi Karen,
That is great that you have started meditating, I’ve been meditating for a couple of years now, but feel like I’m a beginner myself. It seems easy enough to just sit for a period of time, which it is, but the more we practice the more we get out of the experience. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I recently participated in a guided meditation. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to let my mind go if someone was talking me through it. The meditation was wonderful. Maybe the best one ever.
Thanks for a great post, as usual!!
Hi Betsy,
Guided meditation can be wonderful as it can bring to that place of calm more quickly than if you are doing it yourself. Even if you meditate a few minutes each day and then build up slowly to 15 to 20 minutes.
Hi Cathy,
Lovely photo. Meditation frees up the mind, quietens the mind…..allowing more positive thoughts to invade. Thankyou Cathy
be good to yourself
David
Hi David,
The photo moved me as well. Meditation certainly has helped me feel more positive about life and happier overall. I highly recommend it for anyone, but especially someone who is feeling stress in their life. It does seem to help.
hi Cathy – Meditation is a practice that can be very transformative for recovery an dday to day life. It’s a few minutes in the day to be turn inward, be more mindful and to pay attention. So much of our day and lives are spent focused on everything around us that a few minutes of meditation can help us with all the things you describe above – focus, clarity, appreciation of every moment, etc
Hi Vishnu,
Well said! When I started practicing meditation, it had never occurred to me how of our lives are just spent getting through the day and being “busy.” I think we all need a few moments each day to calm down and be still. I feel very drawn to meditation now, and feel it when I skip a day. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Cathy,
I agree with everyone else, meditation can help bring us through so many things. I finally learned how to do it properly a couple years ago and I have to admit it has really helped me bring more peace into my life. It has helped keep me more centered and more connected with others. I can only imagine what it can do for recovering from addiction.
Thank you for sharing this with us Cathy.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
Meditation has helped me as well, and it can be beneficial to anyone. So glad you have found it and that it has worked for you. When you are going through trauma, it’s wonderful to know that there are tools out there to help. This is one more way to help continue long term recovery. Thanks for your comment.
Thank you, Cathy – I’ve been wanting to start for a long time – your post and it’s gentle, clear way of explaining it came at just the right time!
Hi Lisa,
I have found meditation to be helpful in my life to just calm me down and bring me to that place of inner peace. I think you would love it.
Cathy
That’s such a good idea. I dont have any kind of addiction.
Keep up the great work. You are doing a nobel job through the blog.
Hi Farouk,
I’m so glad that you don’t have any addictions. Honestly most people don’t, but there are so many affected right now, that the problem is growing. Thanks so much for your support.
Do you feel meditation would work for Porn Addicts? What seems to be working for me the most is keeping myself busy. It’s when I’m bored or alone that makes me the most vunerable. Maybe I could meditate 5 minutes before I have to leave to be somewhere?
Hi Artisan,
Mediation can help with any situation. You may find that meditation allows you to connect with your inner thoughts and you will have more clarity about your addiction. All the best to you.
I just finished a 6-week course on Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention. Very transformative to my recovery. Related to another’s comment about “staying busy” when triggered and feel that staying present is so much more effective long-term. Taking refuge in what’s happening right now. An acronym that helps: Stop Observe Breath Expand Respond (SOBER).Thanks for the topic Cathy and for your ongoing dedication to recovery. Dan.
Another meditation quote for you:
You should meditate for 20 minutes every day – unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour. — Zen Proverb
Hi Dan,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing the Zen Proverb. I love it!